A mammoth heavyweight showdown is set to take center stage down under.
Undefeated Australian Tai Tuivasa (8-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is set to fight former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos (19-5 MMA, 13-4 UFC) in the main event of UFC Adelaide. Combate was the first to report the news and it was confirmed by ESPN.
The confirmation ends weeks of speculation as to who may headline the card. It has been widely known that Tuivasa wanted the fight with Dos Santos, but it was uncertain as to weather the former champion would want to come to Australia for the fight.
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Tuivasa has quickly become a fan favourite since making his UFC debut where he knocked out Rashad Coulter in the first-round with a flying knee. The proud Western Sydney native then picked up his seventh first-round knockout in a row when he fought Cyril Asker at UFC 221 in Perth before collecting his first ever decision win of his career over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski in Chicago. Tuivasa also recently signed a new six-fight contract with the UFC.
Dos Santos won the UFC title when he knocked out Cain Velasquez in the first-round back in 2011. Since then he has traded wins for losses and recently defeated Balgoy Ivanov in a five-round decision.
UFC Adelaide will take place at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on December 2nd.
UFC Adelaide card so far:
Tai Tuivasa vs. Junior Dos Santos
Wilson Reis vs. Ben Nguyen
Jimmy Crute vs. Paul Craig
Ashkan Mokhtarian vs. Kai Kara-France
Ev Ting to face Shinya Aoki; winner to challenge Australia’s Martin Nguyen in Japan